Pastor Josh Steward and his wife Denise started Tralee Bible Fellowship in 2019.
Joshua is a native of Ohio, USA, where he was raised in a Christian family and worshipped at Canton Baptist Temple. He attended Southwest Bible College & Seminary and was ordained as a pastor in 2013 at Canton Baptist Temple.
Joshua first visited Ireland in 2010 as part of a team from Canton who came to help run the MBF Summer Holiday Bible Club. Following this experience, he felt the call of the Lord to serve Him in Mallow, Co. Cork and spent the next four years preparing to make this move.
He came to Mallow Bible Fellowship in January 2014 with his wife Denise and their four children, Connor, Chloe, Clark and Catherine. He began by taking on responsibility for the youth ministry in the church. In 2015 he was appointed Lead Pastor with overall responsibility for the growth and spiritual development of the church.
Pastor Josh spent the next four and a half years establishing and planting the church in Mallow. MBF grew in understanding of God's Word and numerically under his leadership. He then felt the call to plant another like-minded Baptist church in Tralee, Co. Kerry in 2019. He loves spending time with his wife and children, has a real heart for people, is active in the community and is an avid outdoorsman.
Denise is a domestic engineer, aka homemaker. She disciples other ladies, runs book club studies and leads the women's ministry at the church. Denise has a real crafty side and loves to make handmade cards. She is also an avid runner, competing in 5k, 10k and half marathons.
Connor, Chloe, Clark and Catherine all attend local schools in Tralee, Presentation and The Green, and have a variety of hobbies including drama, music, rugby and rowing.
